Pakistan drop Babar and Rizwan from 2025 Asia Cup squad

Babar Azam (L) Mohammad Rizwan (R)

Former Pakistan captains Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan have been left out of the 17-member squad for the upcoming Asia Cup T20 tournament.

 

The team, which will be led by Salman Agha, will first participate in a T20 tri-series in the UAE with Afghanistan and the hosts before the Asia Cup begins on September 9, the Pakistan Cricket Board said in a statement on Sunday (August 17).

The PCB said the decision to exclude the duo is part of a strategic shift towards a more aggressive style of T20 batting.

Head coach Mike Hesson noted that Babar Azam has been asked to work on his strike rate and his performance against spin bowling.

Pakistan's squad for the Asia Cup is as follows: Salman Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Waseem Jr, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Afridi, and Sufyan Moqim.

Pakistan is in Group A of the Asia Cup and will face Oman on September 12 and arch-rivals India on September 14.